I Can Grow and Change

Designed by: Sallie Jameson    School: Meadowfield Elementary

Grade Level: Kindergarten    Subject: Social Studies

Core Curriculum:  Predict personal growth and change (such as get taller, get older, want to be a firefighter, etc.).  (KSSH-4)

Overview: The teacher will read the book All by Myself and begin a discussion about how people change over time. Four pictures from different stages of development will be shown to the children with more discussion about what physical changes the students observe from the pictures. Questions will be asked to encourage students to think about how their interests have changed and new "things" they have accomplished as they have grown.

Essential Question: How can you tell you are growing? How can you tell you are changing? 

Time Frame: One lesson, 20 minutes

Resources: 

Books:

• All by Myself by Mercer Mayer 
• When I Grow Up by Mercer Mayer 
• When I Grow Up by Peter Horn 

More books visit amazon.com 

Three pictures: One an infant, Second a toddler (2 to 3 years old), Third a child (5 to 6 year old) 8 x l2 drawing paper for each student (divided into thirds) crayons for each student Variety of actual clothes ranging from infant to large child Scales and measuring tape

Assessment: Rubric Students can tell one thing they can do now that they could not do as an infant. Proficient Students cannot tell one thing they can do now that they could not do as an infant. Needs improvement Students can tell what they will be when they grow up. Proficient Students cannot tell what they will be when they grow up. Needs improvement

Instructional Activities:

1. Read the book, All by Myself by Mercer Mayer and lead a discussion about how they are growing everyday, which means they will not stay the same height or weight. Also, as they grow they will learn new things and their interests will change. As they grow many things change, their friends, foods they like, games they like to play, their appearance etc 

2. Display the picture of a baby and discuss what this person can do. (sleep, cry, etc.) Then talk about what help does he/she need from others. (people need to feed, clothe and carry him/her) Ask if they were ever small. Assure the children that when they were born they were about the same size as the picture of the baby, etc. 

3. Next display the picture of the child who is 2 or 3 years old. Ask the question: Has this child grown or changed? In what way? How old do you think this person is? Again talk about what this child can do and what help does he/she need from others. 

4. Next display the picture of the child who is 5 or 6 years old. Ask the question: Has this person grown and changed? How? And does he/she need help form others? How old do you think this person is? 

5. Displaying all three picture ask the students to find the picture that looks like them now. Talk about how old he/she is and review each child's birthday. 

6. Show the students a piece of paper divided into three sections. Model for the students by drawing a picture of a baby, a young child and a grownup. 

7. Again model for the students by thinking out loud what you could do as an infant, a young child, and an adult. Write a sentence under each picture describing each one. 

8. Give each child a piece of 8X12 drawing paper divided into thirds. 

9. Under each picture have each child dictate something they could do as an infant, something they can do now, and what they want to be when they grow up. 

10. Using each child's picture bound the pictures into a book. (Ask someone to make a cover.) Display the book in the book center or library for others to enjoy. Enter the book in a "Literacy Contest" 

11. Give each child an opportunity to tell their age and the date of their birthday. 

12. Bring scales to school to weigh and measure the students at the beginning of the year and at the end of the year. Make a chart to show how each student has changed. Use words like taller, shorter, heavier, lighter etc. 

13. In the housekeeping center, have a bag of clothing representing different stages of growth (ex: infant, toddler, child, and adult). Invite children to try on clothing and discuss how they fit. As the teacher interacts with the students in the housekeeping, ask the questions, "Which ones are too small, fit just right, and which are too big?" Discuss how they have grown and changed. Talk about how they are growing and will one day fit in the larger clothing.